Registration and admission tests for the next academic year are electronic

Private schools in various emirates of the country have adopted an electronic registration mechanism through their official websites, and stated that these sites include a dedicated registration portal, through which the guardian enters the student’s data, and then an appointment is set for a remote personal interview for young children, or an electronic test to determine the level of students in the higher grades, and if the application is accepted, the seat reservation fees are also paid electronically.

In detail, private schools announced that they will continue to receive registration applications during the distance learning period, while providing virtual tours for parents to learn about facilities that support the educational process, such as playgrounds, swimming pools, the school clinic, computer laboratories, art rooms, and scientific laboratories, in addition to other specialized educational environments and curricular and extracurricular activities.

Officials in private schools confirmed to “Emirates Today”: Muhammad Hilal, Badr Abdulaziz, and Shaima Matar, that registration applications are received electronically, with the possibility of paying seat reservation fees online, pointing out that vacant seats in classrooms are opened for registration after passing a personal interview for kindergarten students, via the “Google Meet” or “ZOOM” communication programs, and passing electronic admission tests for grades one through 12.

They explained that the interviews and tests conducted remotely are carried out according to specific controls, which include setting a time for the answer, and turning on the camera and microphone during the test, and if the student passes successfully, an acceptance notification is sent to the guardian to complete the payment of the seat reservation fees, which are later deducted from the tuition fees, with confirmation of compliance with the registration standards and conditions approved by the relevant educational authorities, including the age specified for each class.

Registration officials in private schools: Obaid Khamis, Khaled Ismail, Noura Hareb, and Maitha Shaaban, reported that the schools provided on their websites means of direct communication with the registration departments to help parents, respond to their inquiries, and facilitate registration procedures, pointing out that the registration process goes through two stages: the first is entering data and booking an appointment, and the second is conducting a remote interview for kindergarten students in the presence of the guardian, without direct intervention, as his role is limited to supporting the child and encouraging him to speak and respond to the school registration official. While interviews for higher grade students focus on assessing personal traits, in addition to an academic test to measure their level according to the grade to which they are applying.

The electronic registration form that schools made available on their websites includes an acknowledgment that obliges the guardian to the accuracy and completeness of the data provided, along with his agreement to grant the school the right to request additional records from the schools in which the student was previously registered, such as academic certificates, recommendations, and evaluation reports, to verify the information.

The acknowledgment also includes agreeing that concealing any information or records, especially related to the presence of special needs of the student, may lead to delay or rejection of the admission application. If this is discovered after the start of studies, the school has the right to cancel the student’s admission. The guardian also acknowledges that filling out the registration form does not necessarily guarantee admission, and that registration priority depends on the priority of application. The student is not considered accepted into the school until all required documents are completed, evaluation procedures are completed, and the prescribed tuition fees are paid.

• Schools provided virtual tours of playgrounds, swimming pools, clinics, computer labs, art rooms, and laboratories.

• The student is not considered accepted into the school until he completes the required documents, completes the evaluation procedures, and pays the prescribed fees.